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Pharmacy Issues at the Federal Level

While we can't afford to be in Washington on a regular basis, PPA does work closely with a number of national organizations on their advocacy efforts on the federal level. Below are some of the issues we're currently advocating on at the federal level.

Provider Status: PPA is working with national pharmacy organizations to promote "provider status" by advocating for the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act (H.R. 592 / S.109). These bills would allow Medicare Part B to utilize pharmacists to their full capability by providing services to underserved beneficiaries. Pennsylvania's over 16,000 pharmacists can play a vital role in enhancing access to patient care in the 59 counties currently designated as "medically underserved. Click here to urge your federal legislators to support the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act (H.R.592 and S.109). Additionally, PPA is collaborating with national pharmacy organizations and stakeholders from across the country as part of the Pharmacists' Care Coalition. This multi-stakeholder, interdisciplinary initiative seeks to partners pharmacists with other healthcare providers to provide underserved Medicare beneficiaries with the care they need and deserve. Click here to learn more about Pharmacists’ Care Coalition.

DIR Fees: Direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees levied on pharmacy providers result in enormous clawbacks taken from community pharmacies weeks or months after prescriptions are filled. Such retroactive fees on pharmacies can artificially inflate patient costs and force Medicare beneficiaries into the "coverage gap" sooner. The Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare Part D Drug Spending Act (H.R.1038 / S.413) would ban these retroactive payment reductions and increase transparency. Click here to learn more about DIR Fees and what you can do to help!

Drug Importation: PPA is partnering with national organizations to ensure patients receive medications from licensed United States pharmacies and to decrease the supply of counterfeit medications. Click here to learn more about this issue then click here to contact your federal legislators and let them know the dangers of allowing unlicensed foreign fake pharmacies to dispense in the United States.

CMS Policy Change Proposal: PPA is partnering with national organizations to support a policy change proposal issued on November 16, 2017 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Click here to read CMS's news release on the topic and the actual text of the proposal. You can click here to read NCPA's summary of the proposed changes and click here to read NCPA's news release in support of the proposal. Additionally, you can click here to read NACDS's statement in support of the proposal and click here to read AHIP's largely positive statement on the proposal.

Highlights of PPA's Efforts

On March 28, 2017, the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA), along with with 117 other health care groups, signed on to letters supporting the Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare Part D Drug Spending Act (H.R.1038 / S.413) that were then sent to members of the United States Congress. Click here to view the letter sent to members of the United States Senate and click here to view the letter sent to members of the United States House of Representatives.